JP53: Light In The Darkness: How To Build A Healthy Inner Life

The daughter of an alleged attacker recently described her father as being “consumed by darkness.”   Indeed, the man’s writings reflected ideas as wildly diverging and conflicting as the many views he digested over the years.  His resulting dark inner life was a toxic waste of the culture and content he chose to consume.

Our inner darkness may not rise to the level of outward expressions of harm toward others, but what if we could build a life that consistently leaves no room for darkness and brings light to those around us?

Thankfully, Jesus has a plan for us to build a healthy inner life in an increasingly divided and toxic culture where darkness can quickly accumulate in our souls unaware.  

Jesus explains that,

“No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.” (NIV, Lk 11:33–36)

In Jesus' day, lamps were molded from clay and then filled with oil.  Achieving the best illumination required elevating the light on a stand so its rays could reach the darkest parts of the room.  To sustain its purpose, the lamp needed to be tended by filling it with oil and trimming the wick to best push back the darkness.

According to Jesus, pushing back the darkness of our inner life begins by nurturing healthy eyes.

Nurture Healthy Eyes

Jesus says that our eyes are the lamps that light up our inner life and that we must consistently focus on the light source that expels inner darkness.

Where do our eyes find this source of light?  Jesus says,

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (NIV, Jn 8:12)

The apostle John also bears witness to Jesus as our source of light,

"In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." (NIV, Jn 1:4–5)

Jesus is the light and nourishment for our souls, and there is no substitute.  Yet, we often choose replacements that bring a temporary lift, but when this medicine wears off, we are left with more darkness than before.

We must develop a pipeline of healthy light to bring in through our eyes to illuminate our inner life consistently.

This Jesus-following skill requires that we bring in the light of Christ through regular scripture meditation and application.  This pipeline of God's powerful grace shapes us into the image of Christ and pushes out all darkness.  

Actively allowing the light of scripture to fill us involves more than stimulating our intellect. Instead, this grace-enabled routine will enable the light of scripture to expose the darkness within us and change how we relate to God, others, and ourselves, reflecting the rays of truth we have received.

The psalmist explains that the word of God serves as a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.  As such, the Bible serves as our compass and rule of life for guarding against inner darkness.

Guard Against Inner Darkness

Darkness can inhabit our inner life unaware when we choose to take in perceived perfections of others on social media, causing discontent and contempt.  

We invite darkness when we train our eyes on the divisive language and structures of politics to the point where light from Jesus is traded for the dimness of lesser kings and queens.  

Of course, there are other ways we can corrupt our eyes, so we must be on our guard and nurture our eyes with content that fills us with the light of God's presence.  

Then our lights will shine bright and expose an inner calm and beauty for all the world to see.

Prayer:  Jesus, I love you.  You are the light of the world and the light of my life.  Please help me tend my eyes toward your loving presence daily so that my inner life is filled with your light.  Conquer within me the darkness that desires to substitute your light for the fleeting goods of this tarnished world.  May the light within me shine so that others can see you through me.  Amen.

Thoughts for Application:

1. How can you sharpen your focus toward the light of Jesus found in scripture this week?

2. How is Jesus leading you to bring in more of Him and less of the darkness surrounding us?

Light In the Darkness: How To Build A Healthy Inner Life

Nurture Healthy Eyes

Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness. v. 34

Guard Against Inner Darkness

See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. v. 35

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Photo by Severin Höin on Unsplash

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